Tigers work through growing pains toward their goal

STOCKTON - Greg Gibbons knows the pattern by now and knows he has to be patient.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - Greg Gibbons knows the pattern by now and knows he has to be patient.

The Pacific Tigers are leaning heavily on freshmen this season, so the team's flashes of brilliance usually are followed by stretches of ineffectiveness. The three freshmen cogs have been middle blocker Jennifer Sanders, who has started every game for the Tigers, and Siga Appelgate and Megan Birch, who have alternated at the right outside hitter spot.

The Tigers (7-5, 0-1 Big West Conference) have lost three consecutive matches, including a five-game loss to UC Davis on Thursday, and will have to recover quickly as they visit UC Riverside (1-12, 0-1) at 7 p.m. today.

"It's a young group, but we have to keep them focused," Gibbons said. "The freshmen are continually developing, but the speed of the game is tremendously different."

At 6-foot-3, Sanders has been the most consistent young player, leading the team in hitting percentage (.303) and solo blocks (four), and third in kills (97). Gibbons said he's been pleased with her output and hopes her defense will keep improving. Sanders said her biggest adjustment has been becoming a role player after being the centerpiece at Cinco Ranch High in Katy, Texas, last season.

"It's different not being the go-to player," she said. "It was weird because I didn't expect to play right away and have this kind of pressure on me, but I feel like I'm getting better."

Gibbons still is trying to find the more effective player: Appelgate or Birch. Appelgate, a 6-foot-1 Las Vegas native, began the season as the starter but has ceded her time to Birch in the past two weeks. Gibbons said Appelgate has played well in spurts, but she needs to improve her athleticism in the offseason to compete at a higher level. Gibbons said the game sometimes is too fast for Birch, but he feels she's improving rapidly.

Birch, a 6-foot-1 Monroe, Wash., native, said the young Tigers are lucky enough to find themselves among peers. Captains Svenja Engelhardt and Rebekah Torres and transfer Samantha Misa are the only upperclassmen on a roster of 12.

"The best thing is we can all relate to each other," Birch said. "We all have become friends off the court as well."

There are other young players on the roster that also have gotten Gibbons' attention. He said freshman setter Taeler Davis is learning by watching sophomore starter Hannah Clancy, while redshirt freshman Natalie Robinson has been seeing time as a defensive specialist. Gibbons said this season is just the beginning for this group.

"I like how our girls are developing," Gibbons said "The biggest thing for all of them will be how they approach the offseason. How hard will they be willing to push to get better for themselves and our team?"